Click here for the review of All the King's Men (1949)

Best Picture winner at the 1950 Oscar ceremony.

I'm glad that you liked this as much as you did. I especially appreciated these points:





Your ** star review for the remake might even be generous because the gulf between that film and the one being reviewed is massive. If anyone has seen the remake don't let that stop you from seeing the original. Sean Penn's performance was actually embarrassing to see and it's awfulness is only further highlighted when you see the original performance. It's big, it's showy, but it never slips into caricature.

This used to be a 10/10 film for me but I dropped it to a 9 based on a re-watch. Still, as JB correctly points out, the movie hasn't aged and remains extremely topical (and watchable!)

Call me crazy but I actually liked the remake. Still need to see this though.

Great review of an excellent movie I haven't seen in years. JB is right: this is a story that is just as relevant today as it was 60 years ago (perhaps even more so). Didn't see the remake, and I have no interest in it.

Broderick Crawford is an interesting story. I remember him well as a one-note character actor, playing heavies and tough cops in numerous 50's TV shows, and bit parts in B-movies. But he was born to play Willie Stark: he never remotely had a role like that before or since. The fact that he looked just like The Kingfish didn't hurt.

OK. You are crazy.

The remake was totally unnecessary. There was nothing to improve upon, and Broderick Crawford was amazing.